This resource kit has been designed to provide teachers, parents and students with a space where they are able to explore the third Sacrament of initiation: the Eucharist. Sacraments are a very special, sacred and essential part of the Catholic identity and help to define its particular character as it continues to celebrate the ongoing relationship between God and humanity (Ryan, 2014). The Sacrament of the Eucharist is an act of gratitude and thanksgiving, where Catholics are able to further strengthen their love, faith and relationship by becoming one body with Christ (Catholic Education Office Sydney, 2014).
The Catholic Education Office in Sydney (2014) explains that the "Eucharist: Jesus is with us" unit is to help students to develop an understanding of the Eucharist by focusing on mass and its importance to the life of the Catholic community. According to Bishops of NSW and the ACT (2007) there has been a general decline in the number of students whom are from Catholic backgrounds as well as an overall decline in the amount of Catholics attending mass. This unit of work has been designed around this information, focusing on the idea that many students may have little to no experience with Catholic teachings and mass structures. This unit focuses on the third stage of the mass known as the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The unit has been designed to cater to a wide range of learning styles and needs, to ensure that students are being given the opportunity to effectively engage with and explore the content being explored in the Liturgy of the Eucharist. It is through this that this resource kit has been designed to educate and raise awareness of the important symbols, purpose of celebration, remembrance, structure of the mass and the structure of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The resources include background information, PowerPoints, websites, literature, videos, handouts and more to provide an inclusive experience where students in stage 2 (late year 3) classrooms are able to develop a holistic view and understanding of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Importance to the broader parish/school context: The Eucharist is regarded as one of the most important Sacraments, as it is believed that as Catholics receive Christ's Body and Blood, they are being nourished spiritually and are being brought closer in their relationship with God (Catholic Education Office, 2014). The Sacrament of the Eucharist has a particular focus in schools that also reflects the teachings of the church by focusing on community. Traditionally, in year 3 children are often preparing for and receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist through their first holy communion. This resource reflects this understanding and has been designed for teachers, parents and students to work in partnerships with the broader parish by providing knowledge and support that will makes links between the lives of the student with that of their local Catholic community (Ryan, 2014). |